Mané Masterclass As Liverpool Beat Bayern Munich To Reach Last Eight

MUNICH, GERMANY - MARCH 13: Sadio Mane of Liverpool scores the opening goal during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg match between FC Bayern Muenchen and Liverpool at Allianz Arena on March 13, 2019 in Munich, Bavaria. (Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)

Liverpool booked their place in the Champions League quarter-finals following a 1-3 victory over Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.

The tie was finely poised heading into this leg following a 0-0 draw at Anfield two weeks ago, and even though Sadio Mané’s first-half effort was cancelled out by a Joel Matip own goal, Virgil Van Dijk’s and Mané’s second helped Liverpool book their place in the last eight.

The game started at a frantic pace in Munich but neither side were able to grab a foothold in the first ten minutes as they wrestled for control, Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson falling foul to an ankle injury in the seventh minute, with his evening ending prematurely not long after.

Bayern began to gain the edge as they pushed Liverpool back, setting up camp in their half, testing Virgil Van Dijk who outmuscled Robert Lewandowski after the Polish international found himself in a good position following a long ball from Javi Martinez.

This had been a game full of intrigue following the cagey first leg, however, it flattered to deceive in the first 20 minutes as Liverpool especially looked lacklustre.

That was until Sadio Mané single-handedly sprung the tie into life.

With nothing on ahead of him, Virgil Van Dijk attempted a long ball in behind the Bayern Munich defence. Mané controlled the ball well, cleverly turned Manuel Neuer, who had come rushing out to the edge of his box and produced a sumptuous dink to lift the ball past the defenders and into the empty net for his ninth goal in his last ten games.

From there, the away side began to control the game, Mo Salah and Mané again linking up beautifully to open up the Bayern defence, the goalscorer releasing Andy Robertson whose shot was well saved by Neuer.

Bayern offered little going forward with Robert Lewandowski looking isolated up top, but just as Liverpool had done 15 minutes prior, the home scored from nothing.

A straightforward ball over the top saw Serge Gnabry lose Robertson and hammer a low cross-cum-shot across the Liverpool box, only for Joel Matip to find his own net as he looked to clear the danger.

The sides went into the break level, but the advantage was very much with Liverpool as the second half began in a similar vein to the first, with both struggling to gain control of the game.

The onus was certainly on Bayern thanks to Liverpool’s away goal however it was Klopp’s men who began to see the better of the play, as they dominated the ball in the opposition’s half.

The game was on edge mid-way through the second half when Liverpool took a massive step towards the last eight thanks to a goal from Van Dijk.

James Milner swung the ball in from the right and the Dutch defender rose the highest to thump his header past Manuel Neuer and into the bottom corner to give the home side a mountain to climb in the final twenty minutes.

Try as they might it was Liverpool who maintained the upper hand and sealed the game thanks to Manéonce again as the Senegalese forward headed home his second after an excellent cross from Mo Salah.

Klopp’s side book their place in the draw for the Quarter-finals which takes place on Friday while Bayern Munich crash out.